Improvement in pool-ball racks



HUGH XV. COLLENDER, OF NIDV YOPIQN. Y.

IMPRQVEWIENT IN POOL=BALL RACKS.

' Specification forming part of Letters latcnt No. 116,561, dated July4, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HUGH W. (joLLnNnnn, of New York city, county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin. Pool-Ball Racks 5 and do hereby declare that the following is a fulland exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing making part of this specitieation.

My invention relates to a novel method of constructing the rack forholding the balls inthe gaine of iifteen-ball pool.

Previous to my invention the rack has been made in the form of a ease orbacked frame, with a series of shelves, perforated withholes, for theballs to rest in.

My invention has for its object to supplya ball-raek which shall notonly be more comely in almearance, but shall be cheaper of manufacture,and shall possess the advantage of presenting the balls more clearly tothe view of the players, so that each pla-yer can more readily read thenumbers thereon; and to these ends my invention consists in a ball-rackcomposed of a simple plain board provided with rings or theirequivalents, arranged in horizontal lines, and adapted to hold the ballsin the manner hereinafter explained.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, l willproceed to describe the construction and operation of my improvedballrack, referring by letters to the accompanying drawing, in whi eli-Figure 1 is a face view or elevation of the same, and 2 is a horizontalsection at the line .if ar, Fig. 1.

ln the several figures the same part will be found designa-ted by thesame letter' of reference.

A is a plain board of suitable dimensions, and which may be providedwith a suitable frame, b. l'nto the face of the board A are inserted theends of a series ofmetalliceye-sha11 cd staples, c c, v&c. These staplesc may be made of wire, as shown, and with their protruding endsscrew-threaded,

for the greater convenience ofinsertingthem into and securing them insaid boa-rd A. They are arranged as shown in horizontal lines or planes,(each being set in a horizontal p1ane,) andare of such a diameter thatthe usual-sized balls just iit or set nicely in them, as illustrated inFig. 1. It will be seen that in the use of such a poolrack as hereinshown and described, each ball being held in athin metal holder, theballs can be much more conveniently handled and turned to read thenumbers, and the whole design and appearance of the rack is moreornamental. Of course, ifdeenied expedient, the serie-s of rings c maybe connected by a rod or network of metal secured at several points tothe boa-rd, in lieu of having each ring secured in the board A, asshown, and it will be` seen that in this kind of ball-holder or rack,the balls all being supported in a series of rings standing out from aplane surface, there will be no shadows on any of the balls, and thenumbers on all can be more easily seen than in a rack formed by boardswith side pieces and perforated shelves, as is now customary.Theproportions and ornamentations, as wel] as the material, may, oflcourse, be varied at the pleasure of the mamifacturer; but a rack can bemade embracing all the advantages of my invention, and much moreornamental in appearance, at a much less cost than one oftheoldfashioned kind.

Having explained my improved ball-rack so that those skilled can makeand use the same, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, isp A ball-rack, composed of a plane or board of' anysuitable material, provided with a series of projecting ball-holders,substantially in the manner and for the purposes setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 141th dayof February, 1871.

HUGH YV. COLLENDEP [L. s.]

HENRY N. BROWN, NV.. M. ERNST.

